AICN Anime - Worth Checking Out... Efforts to Help Japan!

Mark Twain said that “to a man with a hammer everything looks like a nail.” I try to avoid that trap and, as such, I've been slow to use this site to comment about the March 11 9.0-magnitude earthquake that occurred near the coast of Japan. I don't believe that Ain't It Cool News is the most productive venue for raising more awareness or for provoking helpful reactions in this sort of truly consequential, media unrelated matter.

That said, I would implore people to read about the crisis in Japan. Not just the back and forth on whether the Fukushima nuclear power plant situation is overblown or covered up, or all of those articles about how disasters have informed Japanese pop media. Read about the desperate situation in the shelters in areas like the hard hit Miyagi Prefecture. For all its faults, the internet offers excellent opportunities to get informed. There's less excuse than ever to be ignorant or rely on reductive thinking. The NHK's English service is an excellent place to track the news, but following multiple sources is recommended.

I hope that now, with some time passed from the event, with the effects being seen, I can encourage AICN readers to do something to help out.

If something media related would help with the little push needed to make a contribution, here are a few suggestions. I'm hoping not to make this ignorable in its over complexity, so, this is by no means an exhaustive list of the heartfelt work being made by many.

Giant Robot, an institution in the coverage of Asian and Asian American culture, will present Water Works - Fundraiser for the Devastation in Japan at Giant Robot Los Angeles (GR2) Saturday, March 19 · 6:30pm - 10:00pm Contributions will be made to U.S. Fund for UNICEF.

The U.S. Fund for UNICEF (USF) is raising funds to help children in Japan impacted by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. This is an unusual decision, as Japan is a donor to UNICEF, not a recipient of its assistance. However, due to the unprecedented nature of the epic disaster and its impact on children, resources are going to be critical in helping provide for the very unique needs of children. These may include health, development, and protection and other needs that may have been compromised or disrupted in the wake of the catastrophe. Giant Robot is proud to join the effort, and have asked many of our talented friends to create water-themed art to raise funds to support the efforts of UNICEF.

In addition to raising money by selling artwork, Giant Robot will be donating the following to UNICEF:

1. Proceeds from the sale of water bottles featuring labels created by artists and signed by celebrities. 2. Fifty percent of proceeds from Giant Robot’s small restaurant, gr/eats, on Saturday, March 19. 3. A percentage of all sales at Giant Robot, GR2, and GRSF during the weekend of March 18-20. 4. Raffles for donated merchandise including designer- and artist-signed items, GR gear, horseback rides, and other items. 5. Cash donations accepted for UNICEF.

As nerds, we owe a lot of our passions to Japan. The human toll itself should be more than enough to convince anyone to aid in the relief effort. If that's not doing it for you, think of the videogames, the manga, the anime, the awesome movies that you have enjoyed in the past.
If every AICN reader gives a mere $10 (that's what? One pack of smokes in New York City?) to the relief effort, think of all it could accomplish! C'mon, fellow nerds!

Will they ship to the US?
I think Japan is also at the forefront of the wooly mammoth cloning project, so it is really essential that we get them back on their feet, stat.
I want to live in a world where I can have sex with my robot girlfriend as my pet wooly mammoth frolics in the backyard.

My buddy lives in Tokyo and he said one of the biggest problems is the misinformation put out by some of the larger Western media outlets such as CNN. It is causing alot of needless panic and confusion. He said that there are no shortages in Tokyo and that there are some power issues and some minor shortages for the first day or so but things are pretty much back to normal now in Tokyo. The media would make you wonder if everyone is glowing in the dark and starving to death throughout all of Japan.
There was a headline on CNN the other day that had the headline "Clock ticks to avert nuclear fallout".
The word "fallout" was nowhere in the article once you click on it - apparently they meant "fallout" as in consequences, not nuclear fallout.
But if you read the headline it sounds like black rain is about to fall.
Yes, the situation is bad in the areas affected by the tsunami, and it is overwhelming and they need all the help they can get, but there are large parts of the country which are pretty much unaffected.
There was a search and rescue guy on the radio lamenting how the media concentrates on the death toll and barely mentions the number of people who were successfully rescued. (Or were saved because the Japanese have strict building codes and earthquake resistant structures for that matter).
All of that being said - there are fellow humans in need, they need our help, if you are able to donate, do it now.

I decided to scope out some pics of the disaster today at work for the first time since it happened, (been putting in a lot of overtime this month), and there are some gut-wrenching photos on the web right now. One that really got to me was of a girl of about 17 or so in fairly nice, clean clothes laying on a flattened cardboard box with her dog (head resting on him like a pillow), the leash tightly wrapped around one hand. The info pointed out that even though the official death toll is around 6300, over 10,000 people are still missing and presumed dead. Photos like that, the look on her face like she had no one left in the world except that dog... fucking horrific. This coming from someone who first saw the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre at age 6 and dislikes about 5 out of every 7 people he meets. My eyes kept tearing up and I couldn't make them stop unil I got up and walked around a bit.
I see what Loserguy means, who do you donate to that makes sure that as much as humanly possible goes straight to those who need it?

The only reason I came to this thread was to see how many d-bags would post some stupid shit about pearl harbor. You're the only one! Thanks for being there. If you hadn't I would have had to reevaluate my opinion about AICN talkbacks.
Meanwhile I'm sure you're fine with blacks Native Americans, among so many others America has screwed in its brief history, saying "fuck 'em" about any bad thing that happens to the US?
Revengonomics!

I only came here because I was wondering what effect the crisis in Japan was having on all the different studios, but I guess you're not going to discuss that.
I've already donated hundreds, I'm kind of donated out. I came here for industry news, but I guess I should have known better.

Americans should stop the Hughes Brothers from making American Akira. Those poor people have been through enough. Its like slapping them when there down.
On a bright note though, the Atomic bomb in WW2 inspired most the Giant Monster/Robot Anime and Manga of the last 60 years. Imagine the crazy ideas those guys will come up with after all this! Art from adversity.